SHOE ACCESSORY MOUNT HAVING A TAPERED SHANK
A system for attaching a decorative accessory to a shoe according to embodiments of the present invention includes a first shoulder configured for insertion through an expandable hole in an upper portion of the shoe, a second shoulder configured to remain on an outside of the shoe after the first shoulder has been inserted through the expandable hole, and a shank connecting the first and second shoulders, the shank having an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter decreases in an axial direction from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over at least a portion of the shank.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/264,542, filed on Nov. 25, 2009, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
TECHNICAL FIELDEmbodiments of the present invention relate generally to ornaments, and more specifically to ornaments for insertion through expandable holes.
BACKGROUNDOrnaments capable of being inserted through expandable holes can often be inserted through holes in materials having varying thicknesses. For example, foam molded shoes often have holes capable of accepting shoe ornaments therethrough. Often, the foam layer through which the holes are formed is thicker for adult sizes than for children's sizes. Sometimes, the foam layer fits snugly between inner and outer shoulders of the ornament when the ornament is installed. However, the inner shoulder of ornaments that have a shank of uniform diameter may sometimes protrude beyond an inside of a hole, causing potential discomfort or irritation for a user's toe or foot.
SUMMARYEmbodiments of the present invention include an ornament having inner and outer shoulders, and a shank connecting the two shoulders which increases in diameter from the inner shoulder toward the outer shoulder.
A system for decorative accessory attachment according to embodiments of the present invention includes a first shoulder configured for insertion through an expandable hole formed on an item, such that the expandable hole expands when the first shoulder is inserted through the expandable hole, a second shoulder configured to remain on an outside of the item after the first shoulder has been inserted through the expandable hole, and a shank connecting the first and second shoulders, the shank having an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter decreases in an axial direction from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over at least a portion of the shank.
The system of paragraph [0005], wherein the outer diameter decreases in an axial direction from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over an entire length of the shank.
The system of paragraphs [0005] or [0006], wherein the first shoulder has a larger diameter than the second shoulder.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0007], wherein the second shoulder comprises a decorative accessory.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0008], wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is 1.908.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0009], wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is 1.9.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0010], wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.8 and 2.0.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0011], wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.7 and 2.1.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0012], wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.5 and 2.5.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0013], wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1 and 3.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0014], wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 0 and 100.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0015], wherein the item is a shoe.
The system of any of paragraphs [0005] to [0016], wherein the item is a garment.
While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive.
While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail below. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention and of the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONAlthough item 132 is described as a shoe 132, item 132 may be any other item that includes an expandable hole formed therethrough, including a shoe, a bag, a garment, a hat, a holder, wearable item, or any other object which can include or be adapted to include an expandable hole.
According to embodiments of the present invention, the mount 100 may be combined with shoes or other articles whose elastic or expandable holes, and whose thicknesses, are selected for minimal protrusion of first shoulder 202 beyond inner surface 134. For example, due to the tapered nature of shank 106, the protrusion of first shoulder 202 beyond inner surface 134 will be comparable for a relatively thin material having a hole size closer to diameter Di to that observed for a relatively thicker material having a hole size closer to Do, according to embodiments of the present invention. As such, the same sizing for mount 100 having the tapered shank 106 may be ideally suited for use with both an adult version (slightly thicker, larger holes) and a children's version (slightly thinner, smaller holes) of the same molded shoe model, according to embodiments of the present invention.
According to one embodiment, distance 322 is smaller than distance 320, such that the narrowest part of tapered portion 307 is connected to the non-tapered portion 305. The distance 326 may be larger than distance 324. Accordingly, the slope of the outer surface 323 of tapered portion 307 (change in axial direction over change in radial direction along axis 308 between edges 312 and 314) may be approximately 1.37, according to embodiments of the present invention. According to embodiments of the present invention, the slope of the outer surface 323 is between 1.3 and 1.4. According to embodiments of the present invention, the slope of the outer surface 323 is between 1.2 and 1.5. According to embodiments of the present invention, the slope of the outer surface 323 is between 1.1 and 1.6. According to embodiments of the present invention, the slope of the outer surface 323 is between 1 and 2. According to embodiments of the present invention, the slope of the outer surface 323 is between 0 and 100.
The outer diameter of non-tapered portion 305 remains substantially the same along axis 308 between edges 310 and 312, according to embodiments of the present invention. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a ratio of distance 326 to distance 324 is 1.2, a ratio of distance 326 to 322 is 2.67, a ratio of distance 326 to 320 is 1.62, and a ratio of distance 326 to distance 328 is 8. According to one embodiment of the present invention, accessory mount 300, including the shank 306, is radially symmetrical about axis 308.
According to another embodiment, an outer diameter of the second shoulder 304 is larger than an outer diameter of the first shoulder 302. According to yet other embodiments of the present invention, the outer diameter of the second shoulder 304 is equal to or substantially the same as the outer diameter of the shoulder 302.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular steps, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of steps and embodiments that do not include all of the described steps. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A system for attaching a decorative accessory to a shoe, the system comprising:
- a first shoulder configured for insertion through an expandable hole in an upper portion of the shoe;
- a second shoulder, wherein at least a portion of the second shoulder is configured to remain on an outside of the shoe after the first shoulder has been inserted through the expandable hole; and
- a shank connecting the first and second shoulders, the shank having an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter decreases in an axial direction from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over at least a portion of the shank.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer diameter decreases in an axial direction from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over an entire length of the shank.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first shoulder has a larger diameter than the second shoulder.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second shoulder comprises a decorative accessory.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is 1.908.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is 1.9.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.8 and 2.0.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.7 and 2.1.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.5 and 2.5.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1 and 3.
11. The system of claim 1, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 0 and 100.
12. The system of claim 1, further comprising the shoe.
13. A system for attaching a decorative accessory to an item having an expandable hole, the system comprising:
- a first shoulder configured for insertion through the expandable hole;
- a second shoulder, wherein at least a portion of the second shoulder is configured to remain on an outside of the item after the first shoulder has been inserted through the expandable hole; and
- a shank connecting the first and second shoulders, the shank having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a first outer diameter that remains substantially constant in an axial direction from the first shoulder to the second portion, the second portion having a second outer diameter, wherein the second outer diameter increases in an axial direction from the first portion to the second shoulder.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the item is a shoe.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the second shoulder comprises a decorative accessory.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the second outer diameter is 1.37.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the second outer diameter is between 1.3 and 1.4.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the second outer diameter is between 1.2 and 1.5.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the second outer diameter is between 1.1 and 1.6.
20. The system of claim 13, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the second outer diameter is between 1 and 2.
21. The system of claim 13, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the second outer diameter is between 0 and 100.
22. A system for decorative accessory attachment, the system comprising:
- an item comprising an expandable hole;
- a first shoulder configured for insertion through the expandable hole, the first shoulder configured to expand the expandable hole when the first shoulder is inserted through the expandable hole;
- a second shoulder, wherein at least a portion of the second shoulder is configured to remain on an outside of the item after the first shoulder has been inserted through the expandable hole; and
- a shank connecting the first and second shoulders, the shank having an outer diameter, wherein the outer diameter decreases in an axial direction from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over at least a portion of the shank.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the outer diameter decreases in an axial direction from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over an entire length of the shank.
24. The system of claim 22, wherein the first shoulder has a larger diameter than the second shoulder.
25. The system of claim 22, wherein the second shoulder comprises a decorative accessory.
26. The system of claim 22, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is 1.908.
27. The system of claim 22, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is 1.9.
28. The system of claim 22, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.8 and 2.0.
29. The system of claim 22, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.7 and 2.1.
30. The system of claim 22, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1.5 and 2.5. Page 6
31. The system of claim 22, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 1 and 3.
32. The system of claim 22, wherein a ratio of change in the axial direction to change in a radial direction of the outer diameter over at least a portion of the shank is between 0 and 100.
33. The system of claim 22, wherein the item is a shoe.
34. The system of claim 22, wherein the item is a garment.
35. A system for attaching a decorative accessory to a shoe, the system comprising:
- a first shoulder configured for insertion through an expandable hole in an upper portion of the shoe;
- a second shoulder having an upper portion with a top surface, wherein the upper portion is configured to remain on an outside of the shoe after the first shoulder has been inserted through the expandable hole; and
- a shank connecting the first and second shoulders, wherein a central axis passing through the shank is separated from an outer surface of the shank by a distance as measured at a given angle in a plane orthogonal to the central axis, wherein the distance decreases from the second shoulder toward the first shoulder over at least a portion of the shank.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 24, 2010
Publication Date: Mar 21, 2013
Inventors: Richard John Allen (Singapore), Kwan San Yeo (Singapore), Anne Klein (San Antonio, TX), Charmaigne Castillo (Boulder, CO), Megan Trujillo (Denver, CO)
Application Number: 13/512,300